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Alumnus Cited as Music Teacher who Makes a Difference

SIOUX FALLS - Nate Sletten, Augustana class of 2008, has been cited by School Band and Orchestra (SBO) as an educator who makes a difference.

A music education major who graduated with summa cum laude distinction, Sletten is the band director at Earlham Community Schools, Earlham, IA.

Educators selected for SBO’s 12th annual 50 Directors who Make a Difference report hail from every state in the nation. The report states: “With educators such as these among the rank and file, the future of music education is as bright as ever.”

“It is an honor to teach music,” Sletten said. “It is an even greater honor to teach students. I want my students to walk out of the band room with a positive attitude, a drive for success and the inspiration to make the world a better place.”

Sletten is in his second year at Earlham and has 114 students in the program.

“Music education is not only a job, but a lifestyle,” he said. “Even though it can get overwhelming at times, it is important to realize that you are not alone. There are so many great professional organizations, publications, and mentors out there ready and willing to help you out. Just don’t be afraid to ask.”

Excerpt from School Band and Orchestra magazine:

Nate Sletten
Band Director
Earlham Community Schools
Earlham, IAYears at School: 2Total Years Teaching: 13Students in Program: 114MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS’ LIVES: It is an honor to teach music. It is an even greater honor to teach students. I want my students to walk out of the band room with a positive
attitude, a drive for success and the inspiration to make the world a better place.PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: A senior student’s parent walked up to me after graduation crying. She gave me a big hug and told me that she had something very important to tell me. After wiping away the tears from her face, she told me that her son named me as the most influential person in his life. We both walked away from that conversation with tears in our eyes.MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Music education is not only a job, but a lifestyle. Even though it can get overwhelming at times, it is important to realize that you are not alone. There are so many great professional organizations, publications and mentors out there ready and willing to help you out. Just don’t be afraid to ask.